Taken by a Feather Vessel 1 - Holding Place

Materials: Oxidized Copper, Raffia
Dimensions: 70mm Height, 110mm Diameter

“Taken By A Feather” is an exploration of fallen pinecones found in the Adelaide Hills, which were dropped to the ground by Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos. Each vessel is made up of individual pieces to represent the segments of the pinecone. Piecing the segments together with fibres I wanted to convey a repetitious form that I find within nature.

Photo credit: Self

Natalie E Gock
Adelaide, South Australia. Australia

After finishing the two-year associate training program at JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, I am currently residing in the Metal Design Studio as alumni resident as a production assistant.

I draw from the uniqueness of nature and use every opportunity I have to use different methods of making to explore materials that I haven’t used before. My art practice is largely based around the use of materials involving metal, fibres, threads and other found things. The process I use in exploring these materials is important to me because of the different ways they can be incorporated into my practice of making functional objects and jewellery.


These containers and vessels definitely hold their place in the world of stunning art objects as well as in the world of metalsmithing.

Since the dawn of time humans have created containers to hold things that were important to them, from large vessels to hold food and harvests to intimate containers for small precious things. They might hold memories, ashes, medicine, beverage, fruit or food - but all spring from the imagination and skill of the maker. Some have specific religious functions, some are meant for everyday use. When one thinks of a vessel or container the inclination is to think of something with solid walls - yet many of these works involve the exploration of positive and negative space, and the use of negative space to help create the illusion of the wall of the vessel.

As the world’s largest jewelry related internet site, Ganoksin strives to develop exhibitions showcasing work from around the world. This exhibition was open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur, advanced and beginner. Participants are from The Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Colombia, Romania, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. While most of the pieces are by an individual metalsmith, some are collaborations, one of three artists spanning 50 years.

In total 319 artists contributed 729 show pieces for the permanent online exhibition.

Objects in the exhibition include boxes, lockets, urns, ash containers, bowls, wine cups, reliquaries, match holders, vases, teapots, pitchers, sugar bowls, baskets, nests, pillboxes, clutches and a range of sculptural forms. A variety of techniques are showcased covering a wide range of metalsmithing techniques. Materials used include everything from gold and silver to less expensive metals. Ornamentation includes the addition of enamel, chasing and repousse’, gemstones and found objects.

The exhibition was curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths in the United States, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world’s largest internet jewelry site.